MANILA – Twenty two Filipino seafarers onboard a vessel released by Somali pirates are set to return to the Philippines Tuesday afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced.

The seafarers, now onboard a Gulf Air Flight GF 156, will arrive in Manila at 3:30 p.m. from the Middle East. They are crew members of MV Irene hijacked five months ago.

Their manning agency, Bright Maritime Corp. informed the DFA about the seafarers’ flight details.

“The DFA conveys its appreciation to the Government of The Netherlands and the Royal Netherlands Navy for escorting MV Irene to safety and for providing medical assistance to the crew,” the DFA said in a statement.

It was learned that the Royal Netherlands Navy ship “Evertsen” escorted the released vessel to safety.

Although they were already provided with a medical doctor upon their release, the Filipino seafarers will still be brought to a local hospital to ensure their physical and psychological well-being once they arrive in the Philippines.

The crew was also debriefed by a team of specialists, according to the principal, Chian Spirit Maritime.

The DFA lauded the efforts of President Arroyo, the Philippine Embassies in Nairobi, Manama, Athens, and Muscat as well as the crew’s principal and manning agency in the safe release of the Filipino seafarers.